Shipping container



Filed Dec. 10, 1946 R- B. SMITH SHIPPING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGSfir 1 f 1 I ROSCOE B. SMITH INVENTOR.

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AGENT Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

SHIPPING CONTAINER Roscoe B. Smith, Wilmington, Del., assignor toHercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of DelawareApplication December 10, 1948, Serial No. 715,246

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a container and, more particularly, to ashipping container for explosive cartridges.

Large size explosive cartridges, of dimensional magnitude of 5 to 9inches in diameter and 16 to 30 inches in length or more, haveheretofore been shipped to their destination in rigidly constructedboxes of fiberboard or wood. A plurality of cartridges is usually packedin a rectangular box and the entire package made to conform with strictI. C. C. shipping regulations. The use of these rectangular boxesseriously increases the weight and volume occupied by a shipment of agiven number of cartridges. When a shipment of explosive cartridgesarrives at its destination, the cartridges must be removed from the box,which now no longer has utility, before being used for such purposes asrock quarrying, seismographic work, and deep or oil well blasting. Thedisposal of the boxes becomes a sizeable problem to a large consumer ofexplosives of this type.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shipping container fordynamite which will occupy the minimum amount of shipping space.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an integral shippingcontainer which can be used in the shipment of dynamite.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shipping containerwhose weight for a given volume of explosives may be kept extremely low.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shipping containerfor explosives in which the container and the explosive may be lowereddirectly into a borehole without the necessity of removal of theexplosive from the container.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

Generally described, the present invention comprises a tubularreceptacle adapted to receive an explosive cartridge, said receptaclehaving one end portion open and the other end portion inwardly crimpedto form a fluted end wall, an exterior disc and an interior disc stapledtogether with the fluted end wall therebetween, and a cover of likestructure as the receptacle. An important feature of the inventionresides in the end structure of the receptacle.

A preferred embodiment oi this invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawingforming a part of the specification wherein like numbers refer to likeparts wherever they occur.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the component parts of the inventionbefore assembly with an explosive cartridge.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the assembled container.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an end portion of the inventiontaken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the cartridge removed.

Fi 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment employing acylinder with caps made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment employinga cylinder having one end portion and cap for the open end thereof madein accordance with the invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the tubular receptacle ll, made of a laminatedpaper, flber or like material, is adapted to receive an explosivecartridge H. The cartridge I I may be of the conventional convolutely orspirally wound type with a suitable end closure. The receptacle III isadapted to receive at least one-half of the total length of theexplosive cartridge II. A cover It is adapted to enclose the portion ofthe explosive cartridge which remains exposed after insertion of saidcartridge into the receptacle ID. The length of the interior of thereceptacle and its cover should preferably be equal to the total lengthof the explosive cartridge I'l, so that said cartridge will be inabutment with the interior discs ll of the cover and receptacle whenassembled as shown in F18. 2.

As shown in cross section in Fig. 3, the end structure or closure of thecontainer and cover consists of an interior disc l3 and an exterior discl8 made of laminated paper, heavy cardboard, flber, or the like, andsecured together by a plurality of stitching staples l8 with a flutedend wall It therebetween. The fluted end wall is is formed by crimpingthe tubular body portion of the receptacle Ill or the cover I2 inwardlyto form the symmetrically fluted end wall I, preferably having at least8 flutes. Each flute produces a crease or fold which is substantially achord to the periphery of the tubular body portion of the receptacle andconsequently the number of flutes used without undue distortion of theperiphery of the receptacle is commensurate with the diameter of thereceptacle. Securing the interior and exterior discs together withstaples arranged in a circle near the periphery of the exterior disccompresses the flutes immediately surrounding the staples to give the,exterior end portion an indented contour which aids materially in thecushioning effect aiforded to the contents of the fluted container.

After the explosive cartridge II is inserted in the receptacle Ill andthe lower end surface ll of the cover It is brought into abutment withthe upper end surface II of the receptacle II, an adhesive-coated tape22 is applied to the joint thus formed.

The alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 4 illustrates a container 23consisting of a tube 24 of laminated paper, flber, or like material,each end of said tube being adapted to being closed by an end coveringelement or a cap 25. The cap 25 is in close fitting relationship'to theexterior of the tube and rigidly attached thereto by a layer of glue 26between the cap and tube. The cap is constructed in accordance with theend structure of the invention described with reference to Fig. 3.

In practice, one exterior end portion of the tube 24 may be coated witha suitable glue and covered by cap 25 retained in place by said glue andwith the end of the tube in firm abutment with the interior disc [3.After being filled through the open end with the material to becontained therein, the tube is similarly closed at said open end by acap constructed in accordance with the invention. The resultantcontainer unit with its shock absorbing caps affords excellentprotection to the contents from the destructive forces encountered inhandling relatively heavy materials.

The alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 5 illustrates a container 21consisting of a receptacle In such as described with reference to Figs.1 and 2, whose open end is closed by means of a cap 25 constructed andglued in place as described hereinabove after insertion of the contentseither in bulk or package form.

Containers for shipping cartridges approximately 7% inches in diameterby 24 inches long were constructed in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the invention and subjected to exhaustive tests todetermine the ability of the containers to meet the requirements of theInterstate Commerce Commission. More specifically, these tests wereconducted in accordance with Specification 23G of the InterstateCommerce Commission as prescribed in its publication known as Title49-Transportation and Railroads, Chapter I-Interstate CommerceCommission, Parts 71-85, Transportation of Explosives. The paper tubesfor the body portion of the receptacles and covers were 1.90 inchesinside diameter and were manufactured by spirally wrapping on a fixedmandrel one ply of 0.016 inch kraft paper, a second ply of 0.025 inchchipboard, a third ply of 0.025 inch chipboard, a fourth ply of 0.008inch asphaltic laminated krait paper, and a fifth and outside ply of0.008 inch asphaltic laminated kraft paper. The laminated paper waswound so that it overlapped itself at the joint.

The manufacture of the tubes was performed on a spiral-tube wrappingmachine. The various plies were glued together with glue applied to thepaper before wrapping. The completed tubes in suitable lengths for thereceptacles and covers were then closed at one end with fluted crimpsformed by a mechanical crimper. When the glue dried a snug fittingcardboard interior disc approximately 7.90 inches in diameter and 0.080inch thick was inserted through the open end of the tube and placed injuxtaposition to the flutes. an exterior disc approximately 4.90 inchesoutside diameter and 0.04 inch thick was placed on the outside acrossthe fiuted end wall in juxtaposition to the flutes, and both discs werestapled together through the fluted crimp using a minimum of 8 staples.The exterior disc was coated with clear lacquer for moisture protection.

In conducting the hereinafter described tests in accordance with I. C.C. Specification 23G, the explosive cartridge, made of 4-ply, 104-poundbase paper, was approximately 7% inches in di- 10 proof gum linen tape.

ameter, 24 inches long and filled with a dummy powder weighing 50pounds. After the explosive cartridge was inserted in the receptacle andin abutment with the interior disc thereof, the cover 5 was placed overthe exposed end of the cartridge,

the interior disc of the cover being in firm abutment with the end ofthe cartridge. The abutting ends of each receptacle and its cover formeda joint which was sealed with 3-inch wide water- The tare weight of thecontainers was 2% pounds each.

Before testing, the containers were conditioned for two weeks at 90%relative humidity and at 75 F. In the test made in accordance with theabove-mentioned I. C. C. requirements, the Cady test showed that thecontainers had a dry strength of 300 pounds or better. The puncturestrength as determined by the prescribed use of a General Electricpuncture tester was found to be 231 units or 31 units above the I. C. C.re-

the 500 pounds pressure at 0.5 inch deflection specified for the side toside loading. In drop tests, the containers satisfactorily met therequirement of four 4-foot drops diagonally on end of the container andthe requirement of one 3" drop fiat on the side of another container.

The above-mentioned tests indicated conclusively that the containersmade in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention fullymeet the I. C. C. requirements for containers used in the shipment ofexplosive materials.

Numerous combinations of plies of chipboard, manila paper, kraft paper,and waterproof lamihated stock, are possible in the construction of thetubular container or cap in accordance with this invention but thepreferable structure is formed of 4 to 8 plies. Of these plies, theouter plies are preferably of a waterproof laminated paper over one ormore plies of chipboard with 4 the laminant being a waterproof adhesivebinder such as fiberboard, cardboard, chipboard, etc.,

are numerous but cardboard approximately 0.04 to 0.080 inch thick hasbeen found preferable.

The tape used to seal the abutting joint of the container and its coverpreferably is a cloth or paper tape coated with a pressure-sensitiveadhesive.

The stitching staples are preferably of steel rendered nonsparking bycopper coating, approximately /16 inch wide and having a crosssectionalarea of at least 0.0017 square inch.

The fluted end wall of this invention is of particular importance inobtaining a structure having a high impact strength and a cushioningeffect on the contents of the container. It is preferable to use atleast 8 flutes in the end wall to prevent undue distortion of theperiphery of the receptacle, the number of flutes used beingcommensurate with the diameter of the container.

A shipping container as disclosed herein has been found to beexceedingly strong and to comply with the I. C. C. shipping regulationsfor containers used in the transport of explosive materials. Whenreceived by the consumer of such materials, the container may be left onthe explosive cartridge, thereby forming an integral, unitary explosivedevice for use in blasting operations without detrimental effect uponthe efficiency of the explosive. If desired, the explosive cartridge maybe readily removed by merely destroying the adhesive-coated tape andreversal of the assembly procedure.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An end seal for a tubular fiber container which comprises an inwardlyand interiorly extending fluted end wall formed by inwardly crimping theend of the container body, said fluted end wall substantially completelyclosing the end of the container and defining a shallow concavityextending interiorly from the folded edge of the container body, saidfolded edge forming a rounded hollow cavity wherein the portion of thebody folded inwardly is spaced from the unfolded portion thereof; anexterior fiber disc disposed within the concavity interiorly of thefolded edge and in juxtaposition to the outer surface of the fluted endwall; an interior flber disc disposed in juxtaposition to the innersurface of the fluted end wall, said interior disc having a diametersubstantially equal to the inner diameter of the container; and aplurality of metallic stitching staples passing through and securingtogether the exterior disc, the fluted end wall and the interior disc,said staples being disposed near the periphery of the exterior disc andforming an annular indentation therein.

v2. An explosive device comprising a tubular fiber container having anexplosive cartridge disposed therein, said tubular container having twotubular body sections, each of which is open at one end and closed atthe opposite end, said open ends being in coaxial abutment and beingsecured together by a strip of adhesive coated tape disposed over thejoint formed by said abutting open ends, and each of said closed ends ofthe two tubular body sections having an inwardly -and interiorlyextending fluted end wall formed by inwardly crimping the end of thetubular body, said fluted end wall substantially completely closing theend of the tubular body and defining a shallow concavity extendinginteriorly from the folded edge of the tubular body, said folded edgeforming a rounded hollow cavity wherein the portion of the body foldedinwardly is spaced from the unfolded portion thereof an exterior fiberdisc disposed within the concavity interiorly of the folded edge and injuxtaposition to the outer surface of the fluted end wall; an interiorfiber disc disposed in juxtaposition to the inner surface of the flutedend wall, said interior disc having a diameter substantially equalsections of slightly different diameter, each of which is open at oneend and clmd at the oppoliteenmtheopenendoithebodysoctlonhaw iltbesmallerdiameterbeinginteleecopic ensaid fluted end wallsubstantially completely closing the end of the tubular body anddefining a shallow concavity extending interiorly from the folded edgeof the tubular body, said folded edge forming a rounded hollow cavitywherein the portion of the body folded inwardly is spaced from theunfolded portion thereof; an exterior fiber 15 disc disposed within theconcavity interiorly of the folded edge and in juxtaposition to theouter surface of the fluted end wall; an interior fiber disc disposed injuxtaposition to the inner surface of the fluted end wall, saidinteriordisc having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameterof the container; and a plurality of metallic stitching staples passingthrough and securing together the exterior disc, the fluted end wall andthe interior disc, said staples being disposed near the periphery of theexterior disc and forming an annular indentation therein.

4. An explosive device comprising a tubular fiber container containingexplosive material, said tubular container having an elongated, tubularbody section open at each end, and a tubular cap open at one end andclosed at the opposite end for each end of the tubular body section,each of said caps having a diameter slightly greater than that of thebody section and being telescopically fitted over and adhesively afiixedto the open end of the body section; the closed ends of each of saidcaps having an inwardly and interiorly extending fluted end wall formedby inwardly crimping the end of the tubular body. said fluted end wallsubstantially completely closing the end of the tubular body anddefining a shallow concavity extending interiorly from the folded edgeof the tubular body, said folded edge forming a rounded hollow cavitywherein the 45 portion of the body folded inwardly is spaced from theunfolded portion thereof; an exterior fiber REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PA'I'ml'rs Number Name Date 1,923,428 Eggerss Aug. 22,1923 1,987,191 John July 17, 1934 2,154,634 Mott Apr. 18, 1939 CarlsonDec. 7, 1948

